EUROVISION'S 30 MOST CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS. 
Part 28: 2017 (Russian Withdrawal).
Continues in 2 days.

THE BIGGEST CONTROVERSIES

Of the

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

(1956 - 2019)  

From its inaugural year, the Eurovision Song Contest has had more than its fair share of controversial moments. This is a special look back on 30 significant upsets in chronological order.

2017

“Russian Withdrawal”.

Ukraine’s victory with Jamala and “1944” at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest brought the annual event to Kiev the following year. When Moscow hosted the ESC in 2009, a Ukrainian entry participated.

Initially, a Russian entry was selected to compete in Kiev in 2017. Tensions between the two countries had worsened over recent years, particularly following the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in the Ukraine during 2014. It has for many years now been alleged that Russia shot the passenger jet, killing 283 passengers and 15 crew members.

Wheelchair-bound Julia Samoylova was selected to represent Russia at Eurovision with the song “Flame Is Burning”. Ukraine banned the singer because she had toured Crimea in 2015, after the Russian annexation. Ironically, the theme for the 2017 ESC was “Celebrate Diversity”.

The EBU intervened offering 2 options: either select a new performer that has not been banned by the Ukraine; or Samoylova could sing her song via satellite in Russia during the telecast. Russia’s Channel One declined and chose to withdrew from the Contest that year.

While Russia and Samoylova missed out in 2017, both were back the following year to compete in host city Lisbon, Portugal. Unfortunately, the Russian entry for that year, entitled “I Won’t Break”, failed to qualify for the Grand Final.